Anton Yelchin biography

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia when it was known as Leningrad, USSR, Anton Yelchin is the son of figure skaters Korina and Viktor Yelchin. Discriminated against in the USSR, not having been allowed to compete in the Olympics by Soviet authorities because they were Jewish, the family moved to California just a few months after Anton's birth.

Anton made his acting debut at the age of nine in a small, independent film called A Man is Mostly Water. Other roles quickly followed, including guest appearances on hit TV series such as ER, Judging Amy, The Practice and Curb Your Enthusiasm, as well as parts in major motion pictures, including his breakthrough role in Hearts of Atlantis (2001), co-starring opposite Anthony Hopkins, for which he won a Young Artist Award.

Anton Yelchin died when his car, which was in neutral, rolled backwards down his steep driveway and pinned him against a brick mailbox pillar attached to a security gate at his home shortly after 1 a.m. on June 19, 2016. He was just 27 years old.

The late actor was seen in a slew of films released after his death, including the horror thriller Green Room, the sci-fi sequel Star Trek Beyond, the romantic drama Porto. and the thriller Thoroughbreds (2018).